Tesla has fallen out of the world’s top 10 most innovative electric vehicle manufacturers for the first time since the ranking began in 2016, according to a new Electromobility Report from Germany’s Center of Automotive Management (CAM), even as the Model Y remains the world’s best-selling EV in 2026.
The latest results suggest competitors are moving faster when it comes to bringing new EV technology to production, even as Tesla’s sales lead holds. The Model Y also topped Germany’s sales charts in September.
Tesla was once the leader in CAM’s rankings, taking first place when the study began in 2016. Its position has gradually slipped as established automakers and Chinese manufacturers have expanded their electric vehicle lineups.
In the previous ranking, Tesla had already fallen to sixth place, its first time outside the top three.
According to electrive, Tesla has now dropped another five positions to 11th, with 78 index points. Its score actually rose by 3.4 points, but rivals brought more EV innovations to market.
Geely kept first place with 207 points, ahead of the Volkswagen Group with 204 and BYD with 192. Mercedes-Benz made one of the biggest moves, climbing three spots to fourth with 147 points. BMW, SAIC, Hyundai, Renault, GM and Stellantis rounded out the top 10.
CAM evaluated 910 series-production innovations from 38 automotive groups between 2021 and the first half of 2026. Its scoring centres on range, power consumption and charging power, along with segment coverage, battery technology and charging control.
Highlighted examples include BYD’s Denza Z9 GT, which supports up to 1,500 kW through a single port, building on the flash charging BYD is bringing to Europe, and Mercedes-Benz’s gains in range and bidirectional charging, as seen on models like the Mercedes-AMG GT SUV. Geely has also been pushing charging speeds with its 2.25 MW chargers in China.
“Tesla, however, is losing significant ground in the innovation race,” said CAM director Stefan Bratzel, in a statement translated from German.
The results highlight a growing challenge for Tesla. While its vehicles continue to sell well, competitors are increasingly delivering the charging speeds, efficiency improvements and new technologies that CAM rewards in its rankings.
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